2013 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Trans-Am, America's oldest professional road racing series, dates back to 1966. The championship was successful for many years, but in 2005 the series stopped. There were two major primary reasons that organizers ended the Trans Am championship - automotive manufacturers were no longer supporting the series and there was a lack of interest among the competitors.

The championship was revived in 2009 with cars prepared to the Sports Car Club of America's GT1 rules to keep costs down and encourage amateur racers to participate.

Since the end of the 1979 season, when Category I and II were eliminated, only one class has been competing in the series. As of 2012, there are three categories – Trans-Am, Trans-Am 2 and Global GT, renamed Trans-Am 3 in 2013.

Trans-Am (TA) – This is the series quickest class. These tube-frame race cars are powered by a naturally aspirated 366-cu.in. pushrod V8 engine, which produces over 850-horsepower. From a technological standpoint, the vehicles are kept relatively simple – no superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The body styles used are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Jaguar XKR and Chevrolet Corvette.
Trans-Am 2 (TA2) – These are also purpose-built tube-frame chassis cars. Unlike the TA category, these vehicles use electronic fuel injection and intake restrictor plates to limit the horsepower to approximately 490. The series officials set the maximum price for shock absorbers, wheels, brake pads, and calipers to keep expenses down. Many of the chassis parts are based on circle track technology and components. This category is also restricted to using a four-speed manual transmission with no overdrive. They run on a ten-inch wide tire. Teams are also prohibited from using superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The most common body style is the Chevrolet Camaro, but the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and Chevrolet Impala SS are also eligible.
Trans-Am (TA3) – This class features American Muscle and European Sports Cars. Competitors in the TA3 category race production-based vehicles rather than the purpose-built tube-frame cars used in TA and TA2. Vehicles eligible for this division include the BMW M3, Porsche GT3 Cup, Ferrari 430 Challenge, Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro.

Round two of the 2013 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series was held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend. Drivers would compete in a 100-mile contest around the ten-turn 2.459-mile road course.

March 3 - Sebring International Raceway
May 19 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
May 25 - Lime Rock Park
June 9 - Watkins Glen International
June 21 - Road America
August 17 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
September 1 - Brainerd International Raceway
September 29 - Virginia International Raceway
November 3 - Road Atlanta
November 17 - Daytona International Speedway

Doug Peterson won the opening round of the 2013 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series at Sebring International Raceway and followed it up with a victory at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Peterson drove the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette and qualified third fastest for round two. On lap-11 of the race, he moved into second and twenty-two circuits later, Peterson passed the leader for first-place and the win.

Tony Buffomante made his TA2 debut at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in the No. 99 Secure Van Solutions / Fix Rim Chevrolet Camaro. The rookie qualified on the class pole with a new lap record. Buffomante battled with the round one winner, Cameron Lawrence, during the race. The pair often ran side-by-side. Buffomante would prevail and grab the victory despite a tire losing air on the final lap.

The two-time series champion Tony Ave drove the No. 4 Lamers Racing Chevrolet Corvette. Ave started on the pole for the first race of 2013 but finished fifth. At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, he qualified on the outside of the front row and beat the pole-sitter, Simon Gregg, to the first corner. Ave would maintain the top spot until lap-33 when he was passed by his teammate, Doug Peterson. Ave finished second.

Cameron Lawrence made his first TA2 start last season. He competed in seven rounds and was victorious at Road Atlanta. Lawrence opened his 2013 campaign with a win at Sebring International Raceway in the No. 11 Ctek / Northstar Battery Chevrolet Camaro. At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, he qualified second in class and after a race-long fight with Tony Buffomante, Lawrence finished second.

The Trans-Am class podium for round two of the 2013 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. The points leader and race winner, Doug Peterson, stands on the top step for the second time this season. On the left side is Peterson's teammate, Tony Ave, who claimed the runner-up position. Completing the rostrum is the reigning category champion and third-place finisher, Simon Gregg.

The TA3 category was a race of attrition. There were two entries - the No. 43 BMW of Mickey Mills and last season's GGT champion, Chuck Cassaro, driving the No. 76 Ford Mustang. Mills qualified on the class pole but retired with power steering issues. Cassaro, who switched to a Mustang after winning last year's title in a Panoz GT, assumed first place and captured the TA3 victory. Cassaro was the points leader heading to Lime Rock.

The defending series champion, Simon Gregg, drove the No. 1 Gregg Motorsports Chevrolet Corvette. Gregg was the fastest during the qualifying session at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. However, the second-place starter, Tony Ave, passed him on the opening lap of the race. He would eventually fall to fourth place. Gregg battled with Amy Ruman and after contact between the two, he finished in third-place.

TA2 newcomer Robert Huffmaster drove the No. 27 Kryder Racing Chevrolet Camaro and earned the runner-up finish at Sebring. He was the third-quickest TA2 competitor at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. In the race, Huffmaster found himself in a fight with last year's champion, Bob Stretch. There was contact between the two on the penultimate lap. Stretch retired and Huffmaster collected a third-place finish.

The Trans-Am 2 podium at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for round two of the 2013 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series. Standing in the center is the winner, Tony Buffomante. In his first weekend of the series, Buffomante not only earned a victory but set a new lap record. The division's points leader and runner-up, Cameron Lawrence, is on the left side. Finishing in the third position was rookie Robert Huffmaster.

FIN.	START	DRIVER	CLASS	CAR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	3	Doug Peterson	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	41	-
2	2	Tony Ave	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	41	-
3	1	Simon Gregg	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	41	-
4	8	David Pintaric	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	41	-
5	6	Cliff Ebben	TA	Ford Mustang	41	-
6	7	Andrew Romocki	TA	Ford Mustang	41	-
7	9	Blaise Csida	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	40	-
8	5	Amy Ruman	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	39	Accident
9	4	Allan Lewis	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	35	Mechanical
10	10	Denny Lamers	TA	Ford Mustang	13	Mechanical
11	11	Tony Buffomante	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	40	-
12	12	Cameron Lawrence	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	40	-
13	13	Robert Huffmaster	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	40	-
14	16	Pete Halsmer	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	40	-
15	15	Mike McGahern	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	40	-
16	17	Tom West	TA2	Ford Mustang	40	-
17	21	Joe Sturm	TA2	Ford Mustang	40	-
18	18	Tom Sheehan	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	40	-
19	23	Kurt Roerhig	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	39	-
20	19	Scott Ferguson	TA2	Pontiac GTO	39	-
21	26	John Atwell	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	39	-
22	20	Gregg Rodgers	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	39	-
23	14	Bob Stretch	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	38	-
24	24	Mel Shaw	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	38	-
25	25	Dale Madsen	TA2	Ford Mustang	37	-
26	22	Mike Miller	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	27	Mechanical
27	28	Chuck Cassaro	TA3	Ford Mustang	34	-
28	27	Mickey Mills	TA3	BMW M3	12	Mechanical

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